So my last day at work was on Friday. I have two full weeks off before returning to my previous employer for a second stint. The time off will be much needed, as I focus on exercising, spending quality time with the kids, preparing for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Artisans’ Festival on March 21st and 22nd, restoring our infested computer, and generally getting my head in a good place.
The last week at work was good – several people had great things to say about my time there. By the time I left, I actually could stop, think back on the year, and feel pretty good about what I accomplished. It really was a remarkable turnaround for a team that was in very bad shape and under constant criticism from other parts of the agency. While I certainly can’t claim all the credit, I do know I was certainly integral to the positive changes.
As I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what didn’t work for me there, and what did work for me at previous employers, one thing I’ve come to understand is just how important it is for me to have good friends at work. I always knew this was important, but I now know my emotional well-being and ultimately my ability to perform at my expected level is directly tied to this. Not only do I use the friends at work to blow off steam with, I use them to validate ideas or perceptions I have (particularly about interactions with other people) or brainstorm approaches to problems. I’ve been blessed that until this past year, I’ve always worked with friends (and actually, my first few months at my previous employer were also rough until I got to know a few people well).
While I still worry that my anxiety and other issues might rear their ugly heads at my new job, I am optimistic that my existing network of friends and mentors I have there will help me be able to cope if I get in a bind. I am excited about getting myself back on track and putting the challenges of the last year firmly in the rearview mirror. While I have learned some valuable lessons about myself this year, it has been a very painful lesson.